Duplex case



Oct. 29, 1935. w p m 2,019,235

DUPLEX CASE Filed April 8, 1935 w 30 five/2Z0]; Wzjzfred ZPar in,

Patented Oct. 29, 1935 E T E D S T is,

TES

DUPLEX CASE Application April 8, 1935, Serial No. 15,193

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a duplex case such, for example, as acombination cigarette and vanity case.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a duplex casewhich is of simple design and of pleasing and attractive appearance,having substantially continuous outer surfaces free from projectingparts and the like; to provide a case having concealed latch memberswhich may be selectively operated by flexing one section of the caserelative to another; and to provide a case which is of strong anddurable construction, which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble,and which can be sold at a relatively low cost.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from a consideration ofthe following description and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a case constructed in accordance withthe present invention and showing the cover of one section orcompartment in open position;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged sections of the case on the lines 2-2 and3-3, respectively. of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, with parts broken away andshown in section, of the center of the case;

Fig. 5 is .a perspective view of the partition between the two sections;and

Figs. 6 and 7 are side elevations, with parts broken away and shown insection, illustrating the manner in which the case may be flexed to openone or the other of the compartments.

The embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises a pairof juxtaposed compartments or sections, designated generally by thenumerals l and 2, each of which is preferably of sheet metal or othersuitable material which may be readily shaped or worked and which iscapable of receiving and retaining a good surface finish. As here shownby way of illustration, the compartment 5 is designed to provide avanity case and the compartment 2 is designed to hold cigarettes,although it is to be understood that the compartments may be designedfor any other use and may be of any desired size and shape.

The compartment I is provided with side walls II and I2 (Figs. 6 and 7),and a bottom wall [3 terminating in a curved outer end M which isprovided with a hinge which supports a cover [6. The cover is isprovided with lateral flanges H and i8 which closely flt against theinner faces of the side walls H and !2, when in closed position, and thefront edge of the cover is also provided with a flange having anoutwardly extending tongue or lip l9 which constitutes a latch member.

The compartment 2 is of similar construction, having side walls 2| and22 and a bottom wall 23 terminating in a curved outer end 24 which isprovided with a hinge 25 which supports a cover 26. The cover 25 islikewise provided with lateral flanges 21 and 28 which closely fitagainst the inner faces of the side walls 2! and 22, when in closedposition, and the free end of the cover is provided with a flange havingan outwardly extending tongue 29 which constitutes a latch member. Ifdesired, the covers I6 and 26 may each be provided with a spring ofusual construction (such as that indicated at 25*) for swinging themopen upon the release of latches.

In the particular embodiment herein shown the compartments I and 2 arearranged so that their respective inner end walls 3! and 32 (Fig. 2) arejuxtaposed to each other and the bottom wall of one compartment isdisposed on one face of the case and the corresponding wall of the othercompartment is on the opposite side of the case, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,6 and '7. The end walls 35 and 32 are preferably of substantially lessheight than the adjacent side walls of the compartments,

and, if desired, the upper edge of the end walls may be turned inwardlyto provide a retaining flange 33, as shown in Fig, 2.

A partition 40, which is of a relatively stiff material such as heavysheet metal, is interposed between the end walls 3! and 32 and the uppermargin of this partition extends above the topedge of the walls 3| and32, constituting, in effect, an

extension of these walls, as shown in Fig. 5. This partition is providedwith a pair of centrally disposed struck-out ears or yokes and 42, eachhaving an aperture therein. At each end of the partition is a pair ofoppositely projecting lugs 33 and t4, the utility of which ishereinafter set forth. Recesses or openings 45 and it are formed betweenthe yokes ll, 62 and the longitudinal edges of the partition, theserecesses constituting catches to cooperate with the latches l9 and 29for holding the covers in closed position.

When the parts are assembled the yoke GI and one of each pair of lugs43, M at the opposite ends of the partition project through openings inthe wall 3! into the interior of compartment l, and in like manner theyoke 52 and the other of each pair of lugs 43, or project throughopenings in the wall 32 into compartment 2, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6and 7.. The parts are retained in assembled position by means of a pairof arcuate shaped springs 5| and 52. The spring 5| projects through theopening in the yoke 4| with its opposite ends bearing against a metalreinforcing strip 55 disposed against the inner face of the end wall 3|,and the spring 52 projects through the opening in the yoke 42 with itsopposite ends bearing against a reinforcing strip 56 disposed againstthe inner face of the wall 32. The springs 5| and 52 are normally undersufficient tension to hold the end walls flush against the partition andthe lugs 43 and 44 are operative to prevent relative rotation ortwisting of the compartments, and thus the two compartments are normallyaligned so that their side, bottom and top walls or covers definesubstantially continuous planar surfaces, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thelugs 43 and 44 also prevent the springs 5| and 52 from twisting orswinging about the yokes 4| and 42. The parts are so designed that whenthe covers are swung to closed position (Fig. 2) the tongues l9 and 29project into the openings 45 and 46, respectively, and are retainedtherein by the action of the springs 5| and 52, the tongues l9 and 29and the openings 45 and 46 thus providing complementary interengaginglatch members for holding the covers closed.

Since the springs 5! and 52 yieldingly hold the end walls of thecompartments against the partition 40 and hence constitute a flexibleconnection, the case may be flexed in either direc- 'free end of thecover is separated from the partition 40 and hence the tongue I9 iswithdrawn from the opening 44, as shown in Fig. '7, thus permitting thecover I6 to swing open. In like manner the compartment 2 may be flexedabout the junction of its bottom and end walls to eflfect the withdrawalof the tongue 29 from the opening 46, thus permitting the cover 26 toswing open as shown in Fig. 6.

In order to prevent the compartment I from being flexed about the freeend of its cover (thus tending to separate the inner end of its bottomwall from the partition 40) the lugs 43 and 44 which project into theinterior of the compartment, may be bent upwardly against the strip 55(Fig. 2) to lock the end wall and partition together, so as to preventsuch flexing movement, and in like manner the lugs 43 and 44 whichproject into compartment 2 may be bent upwardly to lock the end wall 32against the partition 46 so as to prevent the compartment 2 from beingflexed about the free end of its cover 26.

When the case is held in a horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 6 and'7, a downward flexing movement of either section effects the opening ofthe compartment whose cover faces upwardly. For example, when the caseis held in a persons hands so that the cover 26 of the compartment 2faces upwardly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the natural downward flexingmovement of either or both the compartments causes the withdrawal of thetongue 29 from the opening 46 and hence efiects the opening of the cover26. In like manner the natural downward flexing movement eifects theopening of the cover l6 when the case is held so that the cover facesupwardly, as shown in Fig. 7.

As previously noted, the compartments and 2 may be designed for anydesired use and when, as here shown, the compartment is designed foruse-as a vanity case, a powder tray of any desired type may be assembledwith or built into the compartment. In this embodiment a "rolltopleak-proof powder container is shown assembled within the compartmentthis particular type of container having the construction 5 shown in mycopending application Serial No. 10,818, filed March 13, 1935, to whichreference may be had for a detailed description. The compartment 2 isdesigned to hold cigarettes and to this end a retaining member 66(Fig. 1) may be 1 provided to form a pocket in which the cigarettes maybe disposed. As the inner end of the compartment 2 is clearly visiblewhen the cover 26 is opened, a false wall 6| may be provided to concealthe spring member 52 and associated 15 parts which would otherwise beexposed. The wall 6| may be provided with flanges 62 and 63 (Fig. 2) onits upper and lower edges, the flange 63 rest-ing upon the bottom wall01' the compartment and the flange 62 having a curled edge 20 by meansof which it may be caught under the flange 33 on the end wall 32, thussecuring the wall 6|] in position. If desired, the compartment I may beprovided with a false wall of similar construction, although thenecessity of using such 25 is dispensed with when the powder containeris built into the compartment, as shown in Fig. 2.

While I have shown and described one desirable embodiment of theinvention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for thepurpose 30 of illustration only, and that various changes in shape,proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution ofequivalent elements for those herein shown and described, may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope 35 of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A case comprising a plurality of compartments having contiguous ends,means connect- 0 ing said ends, said means being constructed to permitthe case to be flexed, a cover for each compartment, and latch means forholding each cover in closed position, said means being releasable inresponse to flexing of said case.

2. A case comprising juxtaposed compartments connected at adjacent endsso as to be capable of being flexed, a closure member for eachcompartment, and latch means constructed and arranged normally to holdthe closure members in closed position, said means being releasable inresponse to flexing of said case.

3. A case comprising juxtaposed compartments connected at adjacent endsso as to be capable ofbeing flexed, each compartment having a covermovable toward and away from said adjacent ends, and latch meansconstructed and arranged normally to hold the covers in closed position,said means being releasable in response to the flexing of said case.

4. A case comprising a plurality of compartments having contiguous ends,means connecting said ends, said means being constructed to permit thecase to be flexed, a cover for each compartment pivotally mounted toswing toward 45 and away from said ends, and latch means for holding thecovers in closed position, said means being releasable in response tothe flexing of said case.

5. A case comprising a plurality of compartments having interconnectedends constructed and arranged to permit the case to be flexed, a coverfor each compartment, and latch means associated with each cover, saidmeans being normally operative to hold the covers in closed position'and being releasable in response to flexing of the case.

6. A case comprising juxtaposed compartments connected at adjacent endsso as to permit the case to be flexed, a cover for each compartmentmovable toward and away from said adjacent ends, and latch meansincluding complementary interengaging parts carried by the covers andthe end wall of the compartments, said latch means being normallyoperative to hold the covers in closed position and being releasable inresponse to the flexing of the case.

'7. A case comprising juxtaposed compartments connected at adjacent endsso as to permit the case to be flexed, a catch at the end of eachcompartment, a cover for each compartment movable toward and away fromthe abutment on said associated compartment, each cover having a tongueengageable with its respective catch to hold the cover in closedposition, the tongues and catches being movable away from each other inresponse to flexing movement of the case, thereby to release theengagement therebetween.

8. A case comprising a plurality of compartments having contiguous ends,resilient means clamping said ends together and operative to permit thecase to be flexed, a cover for each compartment, and latch meansassociated with each cover, said means being normally operative to holdthe covers in closed position and being releasable in response to theflexing of the case.

9. A case comprising a plurality of compartments having contiguous ends,resilient means clamping said ends together and operative to permit thecase to be flexed, a cover for each compartment movable toward and awayfrom said adjacent ends, and latch means including complementaryinterengaging parts carried by the covers and end walls of thecompartments, said latch means being normally operative to hold thecovers in closed position and being releasable in response to theflexing of the case.

10. A case comprising a plurality of compartments having contiguousends, resilient means clamping said ends together and operative topermit the case to be flexed, a catch at the end of each compartment,and a cover for each compartment movable toward and away from theabutment on its associated compartment, each cover having a tongueengageable with its respective catch to hold the" cover in closedposition, the tongues and catches being relatively movable away fromeach other in response to flexing movement of the case, thereby torelease the engagement therebetween.

11. A case comprising a pluraiity of compartments having juxtaposedends, resilient means connecting said ends and operative to permit thecase to be flexed, each of said ends having a recessed part, a cover foreach compartment pivotally mounted to swing toward and away from saidends, and a tongue on each cover arranged to project into said recessedpart at the end of its associated compartment to hold the cover inclosed position, the tongues being relatively movable away from therespective recessed parts in response to flexing of the case, thereby topermit the covers to be swung to open position.

12. A case comprising a plurality of compartments having juxtaposedends, a partition between said ends, resilient means associated withsaid partition and operative to clamp the ends of said compartmentagainst said partition and to permit the case to be flexed about saidpartition, a cover for each compartment movable to-v ward and away fromsaid partition, and latch.

means including complementary interengaging parts carried by the coversand said partition, said latch means being normally operative to holdthe covers in closed position and being releasable in response to theflexing of the case.

13. A case comprising a plurality of compartments having juxtaposedends, a partition between said ends, resilient means associated withsaid partition and operative toclamp the ends of said compartmentagainst said partition and to permit the case to be flexed about saidpartition, said partition having recesses on opposite faces, a cover foreach case pivotally mounted to swing toward and away from saidpartition, and a tongue on the free end of each cover arranged toproject into one of the recesses in the partition normally to hold thecover closed, the tongues and partition being relatively movable awayfrom each other in response to the flexing of the case in one directionor another, thereby to permit the covers to be swung to open position.

14. A duplex case comprising a pair of compartments having juxtaposedends, a partition interposed between said ends and having recesses onits opposite faces and a. yoke member projecting into each of saidcompartments, a spring member carried by said yoke and acting againstthe ends of said compartments, thereby yieldingly to clamp them togetherso as to permit flexing of the case about said partition, a coverpivotally mounted on the outer end of each compartment to swing towardand away from said partition, and a tongue on the free end of each coverarranged to project into one of the recesses in said partition, thetongues normally being operative to hold said covers in closed positionand being movable from said recesses in response to flexing of saidcase, thereby to permit the covers to be swung into open position.

15. A duplex case comprising a pair of compartments having juxtaposedends, .a partition interposed between said ends and having a yoke memberprojecting into each of said comp-artments, a spring member carried bysaid yoke and acting against the ends of said compartments, therebyyieldingly to clamp them together so as to permit flexing of the caseabout the partition, a cover pivotally mounted on the outer end of eachcompartment to swing toward and away from said partition, and tongue andcatch members carried by said covers and partition normally operative tohold the covers in closed position and releasable in response to flexingof the case.

WINFRED T. PARKIN.

